TRANSIT took note of this article which describes plans for another corporate restructuring at KTMB.

It is sad that the Malayan Railway has still not managed to figure out whether it is supposed to be a government agency, corporate entity, or something in between.

TRANSIT remembers earlier corporate restructurings that have happened for KTMB. Well, at least they were started but then they got stalled either because of a lack of government support, an unclear vision, or resistance from workers (among other reasons).

The corporatization of KTM began nearly 2 decades ago but it was never finished. A lack of government funding and deferred maintenance since the corporatization has helped bring KTMB to its knees.

Recently one President of KTMB started an RM1 campaign, promising to take KTMB back to profitability. That campaign died aborning, when the president was quickly replaced (it might have had something to do with his “hybrid” trains).

The most recent KTMB President has talked about restructuring KTMB into a holding company, with various railway service subsidiaries (freight, Komuter, ETS, power systems, maintenance, terminal management, etc). and selling track warrants to other companies interested in providing railway services. He believes that this model will be successful because it has worked in Europe – despite the fact that it has not worked in many European countries and that Malaysia lacks the density that makes railway travel profitable.

We wonder what this latest restructuring will bring for KTMB but we wish to share one important point – KTMB needs to have a clear vision of the kind of transport service provider that it needs to be over the next 10-20 years.

Without that clear vision, this latest restructuring will be as effective as the last ones.

PETALING JAYA: KTM Bhd (KTMB) will undergo a two-year corporate restructuring programme to turn around the ailing national rail operator and a consultant will be hired to manage this, according to the Treasury, in its reply to the Auditor-General’s (A-G) report.

TRANSIT took note of this very interesting and disappointing bit of news – that Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz, who has a history of involvement with public transport in Malaysia, is now trying to get himself involved in the MRT project.

Nazri has suggested an alternative alignment to the controversial “best alignment” for the railway scheme as proposed by Prasarana & SPAD. He also claims that “I know the Prime Minister.”

But Nazri needs to realize that the public, and TRANSIT, know him. We know him as the minister in charge of the Entrepreneur & Cooperatives Development Ministry when the CVLB was a part of it. We know him as the person accused of allegedly profiting from thousands of taxi permits (apparently this was never successfully resolved either way). We know him as the minister who, when once again put in charge of the CVLB, presided over a 30% increase in bus fares as well as the end of RapidKL’s “daily passes” … and promised that better service from the bus companies would result.

We also know him as the Minister who lobbied to be placed in charge of SPAD, with CVLB Director Halimah Sadique as a proxy.

Now he wants to get involved in the MRT project? Yes Minister Nazri … you know the Prime Minister but TRANSIT and the public know you.

The parcel of land involves Jalan Sultan and Jalan Bukit Bintang here.

Several property owners, historians and Chinese cultural activists had objected to the acquisition of the land in Jalan Sultan for the project, saying it would involve tearing down century-old heritage buildings.

Nazri said he would also hold discussions with Syarikat Prasarana Sdn Bhd, which was undertaking the project, to consider several matters including an alternative route before any acquisition.

Nazri, who is Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, spoke to reporters yesterday after a dialogue with the Federation of Chinese Associations of Malaysia (Hua Zong) over the matter.

He said Pandan MP Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat had shown him an alternative route for the MRT which bypassed the area designated for the land acquisition. – Bernama

Now, on the subject of alternative alignments, let us once again restate that we have always had a problem with the provisions in the Railways Act (and successor PAD Act) with respect to planning a railway. We felt that these provisions were out of date and better suited to planning a freight railway through rural areas (which is effectively what FMSR/MR/KTM/KTMB was created for) as compared to an urban mass transit system. The big problem is that the Railways Act & PAD Act only require the “final” alignment to be shared with the government & the public – making public consultation a near impossibility.

Now, on Nazri’s involvement, we have to say the following:

Nazri, with all due respect, your presence in this issue is not welcome.

You had your chances to improve public transport twice, and you failed spectacularly, both times. The Prime Minister rejected you as the Minister in charge of SPAD. The law (SPAD Act) says SPAD is in charge and SPAD is independent. The only person SPAD reports to is the Prime Minister. You are not the Prime Minister.

TRANSIT took note of this interesting letter by C.R. of Kuala Lumpur, who discusses the recent protest by the Railwaymen’s Union of Malaya (RUM), which included warnings of a “work-to-rule” campaign & potential disruption of Balik Kampung / Hari Raya Aidilfitri travel.

C.R. argues that it might be time to open up the Railway sector to increased competition.

TRANSIT will tell you what we think about the proposal, but first, read the letter:

Syraikat Prasarana Negara Berhad (Prasarana), the custodian for (some of) the public transport system in the Klang Valley and Penang, has issued the following press release about the 3 months public display for the proposed amendment to the routing for the Ampang LRT line extension – including a relocation of the proposed depot from Kg. Sri Aman to Kg. Kuala Sg. Baru (just across the Klang River) – which begins on 27 May 2011.

The LRT extension route showing the area with the proposed adjustments to the railway scheme - specifically the location of the depot. Image courtesy of LRTextension.com

Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad (Prasarana) – the custodian of public transportation system for the Klang Valley – is seeking feedback from members of the public over the revised proposed alignment of the Ampang (AG) Line LRT extension project.

Look for an update of this post in the next few days with our submission to SPAD and the Minister of Transport;

If you are using the online form at kvmrt.com.my, may we suggest that you post your feedback below in our comments section;

If you are emailing your submission, send it directly to feedback@kvmrt.com.my. You may also wish to send copies directly to SPAD’s CEO, Mohd Nor Ismal Kamal (mnkamal@spad.gov.my) and the Minister of Transport Kong Cho Ha (menteri@mot.gov.my);

If you choose to mail your feedback in or deliver it personally, make sure that you print 2 copies (at least) – one for them to stamp and verify receipt. Other copies can be shared with the Minister of Transport and your local councillor and Wakil Rakyat (if you live in an area directly affected by the Sg. Buloh – Kajang Line proposal).

All persons who believe they will be affected by the alignment of the railways scheme, including a decrease in their enjoyment of their property, should give their feedback to the regulator, the Land Public Transport Authority (SPAD) on the railways scheme.